"On this day atonement will be made for you": A theology of Leviticus 16
Subject
Bible. O.T. Leviticus XVI--Criticism, interpretation, etc.Yom Kippur.
Atonement--Biblical teaching.
Judaism--Liturgy.
Theses Ph. D.--Old Testament.
Description
This restricted item is available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary through the URI below.
Abstract
This project explicates the message and theology of Leviticus 16. Chapter 1 introduces the history of the theological interpretation of Leviticus 16. Set forth also is the thesis, scope, and methodology of this project.
Chapter 2 furnishes a study on four important terms in Leviticus 16: kiper , kapporet, Azazel , and h[dotbelow]at[dotbelow]t[dotbelow]a't . Definitions determined in this chapter inform the remainder of the project.
Chapter 3 begins with a brief survey of socio-anthropological opinions concerning ritual. Moreover, the exegetical portion of this project begins in this chapter, namely an examination of the structure, order and sequence, and contexts of the prescribed ritual in Leviticus 16.
Chapter 4 continues the analysis begun in chapter 3. Specifically analyzed in this chapter are the following categories: ritual space, time, objects, roles, sight, sound, language, actions, and commentary.
Chapter 5 provides theological conclusions for the above analysis. To properly reflect theologically on Leviticus 16, this segment considers the sub-text of Leviticus 16 along with the pericope's message.
This project contends that the ritual in Leviticus 16 provides purgation of Israel's sin and the continued presence of YHWH in their midst. The writer of Leviticus 16 understands the logical correlation between the purgation of sacred space and the purgation of sacred people. To purge sacred space is to re-declare the status of YHWH, holy and radically independent, and the status of Israel, sinful but liberated covenant people.